Container folding mechanism



Aug. 13, 1935.

CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed April 25, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. MOREY 2,011,198

Aug. 13, 1935.

E. MOREY CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed April 23, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 13,1935. E. MOREY 2,011,193.

CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed April 23, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 13; 1935.-.,

E. MORE- Y 2,011,198

CONTAINER FOLDI NG MECHANI SM Filed Ap il 23, i932 1o Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 13, 1935. E. MOREY CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed April 23, 1932 7 10 Sheds-Sheet '7 [fibezaiora- L More CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed April 23, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Aug. 13, 1935. I MQREY 2,011,198

CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed April 23, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 9 I00 4 I 6 86 z 4 a 5 99 85 I I Q J 5 1 98 \\\/I A \W la, 84 1220832203:

Aug. 13, 1935. MOREY 2,011,198

CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed April 23, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER FOLDING MECHANISM Applicatidn April 23, 1932, Serial No. 607,138

Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for folding the tops of containers such as bags, and liners, so called, if intended for use in cartons, the former made of paper or the like, and, if desired, treated with some waterproof material, as paraflin, as in the present case, and sealing, as by an adhesive, or wire or paper staples or, as herein, by heat, the

folded bag or liner top, so that it shall be substantially air and moisture proof.

This invention is an improvement upon the liner closing means shown in the pending application, Serial No. 344,246, by Robert H. Stimpson and myself, and is designed to permit the use. of paraffined paper and the like of various qualities both as to the paper itself and the weight of parafiin coating, which varies according to the use to which the liner is to be put, and the desires of the packer. While some of the differences between the present machine and the one above alluded to may, at first glance, appear not to be radical, they are very important in the results they achieve.

In the drawings of the embodiment of my invention illustrated and described herein,

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through the bed of the machine and the carton carrier, carton, and liner at station one, of the carrier, during the effecting of the first step of the liner closing operation;

Fig. 2, a side elevation detail on a larger scale, of the liner top indenting and closing members in their normal positions preparatory to performing the first closing step;

Fig. 3, a plan on a larger scale, of a portion of the machine on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing the minor or side flap spreading members in normal position, as the liner reaches the top folding members, not shown, the major or front and rear carton flaps having been spread apart and laid down;

Fig. 4, a similar view showing the minor flap spreading members in flap spreading position, prior to the descent of the indenting members;

Fig. 5, a front elevation of the indenting members and liner with the carton in vertical section, during their downward travel as they engage the top of the liner;

Fig. 6, a similar view showing the indenting members at the extreme point of downward travel with the liner minor flaps indented;

Fig. 7, a side view on a smaller scale showing the same members after the minor flaps on the sides of the liner have been indented, and the major flaps have been brought nearly together n upstanding parallel relation;

Fig. 8, a similar view showing the liner sides pressed together and the laterally folding members imparting the first lateral fol'd'thereto;

Fig. 9, a similar view of the liner advanced to the next station, the laterally folding members 6 having returned to normal position, and the upwardly flap tucking member in inoperative posi-' tion;

Fig. 10, a vertical cross-section of the machine bed and cart-on, showing the upwardly tucking 10 member at the beginning of the second step of the top folding operation;

Fig. 11 shows, in a similar view, the tucking member in extreme position of the tucking operation;

Fig. 12 likewise shows the tucker withdrawn and the horizontal crimping and downwardly folding members in action;

Fig. 13 shows the fold centering, laying and ironing member and fold base positioning mem- 0 her about to act upon the crimped downwardly folded top;

Fig. 14 illustrates the said members at the beginning of action upon the folded top;

Fig. 15 shows the same members in progressive 2 action upon the folded top;

Fig. 16 shows the fold base positioning member in its lowest position while the fold laying member presses the fold down upon the former to complete that step; and

Fig. 17 shows the base positioning member withdrawn, the fold laying, ironing and liner shaping member in its final operative position.

Referring first to Fig. 1, my novel and improved liner closing machine comprises the bed plate I, with suitable supporting legs, not shown.

In the drawings practically. nothing below the bed I is illustrated for the reason that all the driving and other operating means is entirely conventional, in the form of gears, cams, et 40' cetera, of proper size and shape operatively assembled, and no novelty is claimed therein, per se.

On the bed I is a suitable carrier 2 with the carton 3, traveling between guides 4. If the container to be closed is not in a carton, then the. carrier will be equipped with the same or any convenient form of holder for the container. The present mechanism is adapted to receive in advance of the first operative station a carton provided with a filled liner 5 ready to haveits top closed and sealed. The mechanism has a step by step motion and, Fig. 1, before reaching the first of the liner top folding members, the front and rear carton flaps 6, Fig. 2, have been engaged by the'conventional flap turning mem- 5 by any suitable means in the see Fig.

bers I .and downwardly turned to prevent them from interfering with the liner top closing members to be described.

The carton 3, Fig. 3, with its major flaps turned down, one shown broken away, then approaches at station one, minor or side flap spreading means in the form of two arms 8 each pivoted at 9, Figs. 1, 3 to a bar ID on a rod horizontally slidable in a post |2 on the bed I.

The rod, Fig. 1, is pivoted to a link |3,othe opposite end of which is pivoted to a vertical arm |4 pivotally mounted in turn-on the bed I, while the opposite arm is connected to and operated driving mechanism, not shown.

Also on the post l2, Fig. 3, are two horizontally rotatable rolls |6 which cooperate with the cam faces II on the rear ends of the arms 8 to swing the arms respectively right and left, Fig. 4, when the bar I0 is pushed forward by the rod II and to temporarily spread the end car'ton flaps l9, 4, by aquick kicking action, to permit the indenting members 29, Fig. 5, to positively descend between the flaps l9 and the liner top 5, even if, as occasionally happens, a liner top edge should be slightly distorted in shape. on the retirrn'of the bar ID with the arms 6, the latter are again promptly returned to their normal position, the spring 2| on the arms causing them to be kept in 'close operative contact with the rolls 6.

The liner top indenting members, Figs. 5, 6, are shown as two slender downwardly pointed fingers 26 with bevelled inner edges 2| at their lower ends, suspended above the top of and in the path of travel of the liner 5 by the stud shafts 22 from the head 21 slidable on the shaft 24 in the bearing 25 on the upright post 26 on the front of the bed I. On the opposite ends of the shafts 22 are arms 21, carrying rolls 28, the rolls riding on the cam faces 29 on the bracket 30 on the post 26.

The rolls 26 are retained in close contact with the cam faces 29 by a spring II. On the shaft 24 is secured a block 32, Fig, 1, one side of which is grooved and has a sliding engagement with the boss 33 on the post 26. The opposite end of the block is pivoted at 34 to the link 35 which, in turn, is pivoted to the arm 36, to which reciprocating motion is applied by a rod 31 from a cam 36, Fig. 1, below the base. By the described means the rolls 26 are caused to travel along the cam faces 26, Fig. 5, to swing the indenting members 26 quickly against the opposed liner top ends or sides at the proper time, see

Fig. 6, following the action of -the flap spreaders I, Fig. 5,. to form the indented portions 39 of the liner top preparatory to the folding operation proper. 1

Following the inward travel of the indenting members, and Fig. 7, while they are still between ,I the indented portions of the opposed side walls of the liner top, the interlocking top closing, pressing and laterally folding, swingable members 46, 4| approach the liner top from opposite directions, and, Fig. 8, as the indenting members 26 are withdrawn, the folding members press the liner top walls first gently against the indenting members 26 to prevent the indented portions from opening up as the members 26 withdraw, and then press the top between the folding members as will be described.

The object of this step is to bring the indented liner top sides together under proper conditionsto oifset their natural tendency to fly apart or open when released from the closing and pressing members 40, 4|.

I have found that, to do this with the best re-" sults with various kinds of waterproofed paper, mere pressing is not suflicient. Apparently the flat arrangement of the fibers of the paper must be broken up. Accordingly, to that end, I provide the inner face of member 40 with a horizontal slot 42, and the corresponding face of' the member 4| with a cooperating flange or blade 43, Fig. 7, which, when brought together, create in the liner top, Fig. 8, well up toward its edge, an offset, or reverse fold 44 of the liner on one sideof the closed top with the free folded edge 45 thereof extended laterally to the opposite side of the closed top. This breaks the fibers of the paper at that point and its resistance to the pressing acion.

' While this folding step does not prevent the folded liner top from opening up somewhat when released, and as the liner and carton are carried to the next station, Fig. 9', it does prevent the top from opening up to any substantial extent, the reverse fold creating in the liner both a permanent crease that, to a very large degree, oil'- sets the tendency in the liner top to spread open, and a crease that eventually becomes permanent, as the edge of the folded liner top, Figs. 11 and 12.

The members 40, 4| are carried on the ends of arms 46, 4|, actuated 'by gears 48, 49, mounted in the bracket on the operated through the arm 5| on the rod 52 from the cam 53.

To assist, when desired, in sealing the liner top, members 46, 4|, Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8, and the other folding members to be described, or part of them, are provided with electric heating members 54, dotted lines, to soften the waterproofing material, as paraiiln, or the adhesive on the paper to promote adhesion.

If it is only desired to warm the folding members sufficiently to prevent them from picking up the wax from the paper, and thus interfering with their operation, that may be done by installing heating members of suitable capacity for that purpose.

Instantly thereafter, and before the warmed paper waterproofing has time to cool, the laterally folded liner top is moved to the station two where it is subjected to the second step in the folding and sealing operation of the liner.

At this station, Figs. 9, 10, in the overhanging end of an arm 55 mounted on the bed I, is a 30' post 26, Fig. 1, and

short shaft 56 fast on'an arm 51 on a shaft 58" onthe arm 59, operated by a cam, not shown, on the base. The shaft 56, has thereon a gear segment 66 in mesh with a pinion 6|, meshing in turn witha pinion 62, the two pinions mounted in anarm 63, loose on the shaft 56. The arm 63, Fig. 10, has fast thereto an arm 64 loose on the shaft 56 and pivoted to a link 65 operated. from ,the cam 66. I

In the oiTset end 61 of the arm 63, Fig. 10, which constitutes a jaw, as will be explained, is a pinion 68 meshing with the pinion 62, and this pinion 68 operates a ribbed, down folding and crimping jaw-member 16, cooperating with the grooved face 1| of the fold-supporting jaw member 61. Through the construction described, the arm 59 and segment 60, pinions 6|, 62, 68 impart downward swinging motion to the member 10, while the link 65 and arm 64 provide suitable forward swinging movement of the arm 63 with the pinions GI, 62, 68 and Jaw 6! thereon.

Cooperating with thisjaw 61 is. a tapering tucking member 12 on an arm 13 fast on the stud shaft 14 in the machine arm 55, the shaft 14 having fast thereon an arm 15 pivoted at 16 to a rod 11 operated in turn from a cam '18.

When the partly folded liner top 45 arrives, Fig. 9, at station two, the opposite sides of the liner top are closed, Fig. 10, and are tucked upwardly by the member I2v against the jaw 61 and held there while the crimping and folding jaw member swings downwardly against it. When the member 10 contacts with the laterally folded edge. 45 of the liner top, the former pressesthe latter lightly against the tucker 12 for an instant to hold the folded top in position, Fig. 11, before the tucker is swung backwardly, Fig. 12, by the gear construction described.

After the withdrawal, Fig. 12, of the tucker 12, the downfolding and crimping member I0 is swung further downwardly by the mechanism above described and the previously folded liner top 45 is again pressed between the ribbed crimping member 10 and the grooved jaw member 61, this action imparting to the, Fig. 9, partly closed liner top, formed by the first folding step, a second downward folding squeezing and crimping action, Figs. 11, 12, along the line of the fold made by the groove 42 and blade 43 of the members 40, 4|, respectively.

These two steps so soften the folded liner top at the point of creasing, that the fold has little or no tendency to open up at this point thereafter.

At the next station, number three, the closed, folded top partly sealed, if sufficient heat is used to heat it, stands quite upright below the lateral fold and, Fig. 13, is engaged first, on its front, Fig. 13, left hand, face by a fold top positioning and ironing member 80 in the form of an arm with flanges 8| on its opposite sides, the arm having limited pivotal motion about the pivot 82 on a curved arm 83 which, in turn, is

operated by a link 84 to provide lateral swinging motion about the pivot 85.

The limited vertical swinging motion of the arm 89 is provided by the adjustment of the finger 86 on the arm 80 relative to the finger 81 on the arm 83 by means of the stud 88 on the member 86 and nuts 89 therefor, the spring 99. secured to the arm 83 and finger 92 of the arm 80, providing means to normally return the member 80 to its elevated position.

The closed container top having been centered by the member 80,. the fold swinging and fold basepositioning member 94, Fig. 13, swings down the closed folded container top and, Fig. 14, proceeds first, Fig. 15, to its position at the base of the fold, Fig. 16, following by the ironing member 80.

The member 94 is pivoted at 95 to an arm 96 movable about the pin 91 on the bracket 98, the arm 95, in turn, Figs. 13to 17 being controlled by the movement of an arm 99 pivoted at I09 to a rod initial told as well as the downward fold being clearly defined and made eifective with the sealing of the same.

Thereafter, Fig. 17, the final step is effected by the withdrawal of the member 94 and the effecting of the top ironing and the closed liner shaping action by the member 80, after which the closing of the flaps of the carton is effected by any suitable mechanism.

The above described-mechanism is the most efficient that I know of, both as to speed and quality of result. The step by step-method of operation is quicker than the continual motion method, because in the case of the latter, the entire mechanism is retarded to the speed of the slowest moving part, which is not true of the former.

If a heat sealed fold is not required, a sealed fold may be had that is so tightly effected that it is nearly as tight as a heat sealed fold, and just as permanent.

1 My invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof described and illustrated.

I claim:

1. A carton-contained liner folding and sealing mechanism comprising, in combination, a traveling carrier for the carton, and liner wall indenting means, interlocking container top closing and laterally folding members, top downwardly fold-' ing and crimping members, fold base positioning and fold laying, ironing and liner top shaping members, heating means on one of said fold op erating members to promote heat sealing .of the liner fold and to prevent liner material from building up on said fold treating members, all constructed and arranged in sequence for successive step-by-step operation.

2. Carton contained liner folding and sealing mechanism comprising, in combination, a traveling carrier for the liner, side wall indenting means, heated interlocking container top pressing, reverse and offset form folding members engaging the indented container top before the indenting members have withdrawn; heated downwardly folding and crimping members, a tucking member acting to tuck the folded top between them prior to their crimping action; fold base positioning and fold laying, ironing and container top shaping members, constructed and arranged for successive step-by-step action on the liner in the carrier.

3. Carton-contained liner folding and sealing mechanism comprising, in combination, a traveling carrier for the liner, vertically sliding and swinging side wall indenting members, interlocking top closing and laterally offsetting and folding members engaging the. liner before the indenting members are withdrawn, and thus preventing the container top from opening, downwardly top folding and crimping members acting also to impart a crimp adjacent the line of the offset fold, a tucker acting to tuck the fold between the crimping members prior to their action, and fold base positioning, and fold ironing, laying and liner shaping means constructed and arranged for cooperative action in sequence.

4. Carton-contained liner folding and sealing to tuck the fold between the crimping members; and fold base positioning and fold, laying and ironing and liner shaping means, with liner top heating means, constructed and arranged for cooperative heat sealing action in sequence.

5. A carton-contained liner top bellows i'olding means comprising carton flap spreading means and flap down-turning means, cooperating liner top indenting members for the liner and arms pivoted above and in operative relation to the liner, one ar'm having a horizontal slot in its operative end, and the opposite arm having a cooperating bladeto force the indented liner top into the slot and provide it with a reverse fold extended and offset laterally in one direction and a straight fold in the opposite direction from the folded liner top.

6. A carton-contained; liner top folding means comprising carton flap spreading means and flap down-turning means, a support for the liner. arms movably supportedabove and in operative relation to the liner support, one arm having on its operative end a liner top receiving and warming aperture, the opposite arm having a cooperative top warming blade whereby the liner top is fashioned to provide a T-shaped structure.

I. Carton-contained liner top folding means comprising a support for the liner, a pair 01' arms -movably mounted in operative relation to the support, one arm provided at its operative end with a pair of jaws, means to operate them, one jaw having a groove therein, the opposite jaw having a bead thereon, an arm adjacent the jaws with a tucking blade thereon adapted to close and tuck the laterally folded liner top between the 2,011,198 at the point of the lateral oil'set, a tucker acting Jaws, and jaw operating means constructed to close and press the Jaws upon the liner top, to crimp the same.

8. Carton contained liner top folding means comprising a support for thee liner, a container fold top positioning, laying, and ironing member,

and a i'oid base positioning member operatively mounted relative to and progressively operable on the liner and means to cause the members to progressively move to the base 01' the fold, and the base positioning member to withdraw and the ironing member to lay the fold, iron it and also shape the filled liner.

9. In a liner top closing machine having means for folding the liner top, and carton flap kicking means, means for supporting the carton and liner with the carton end flaps upstanding, means for inserting the kicking member between the carton flap and liner top, and thus removing the flaps from the path of the liner closing members, and subsequently withdrawing the flap kicking memher from between the liner top and carton flap.

10. Carton-contained liner folding and sealing mechanism comprising, in. combination, carton CERTlFICATE or CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,011,198. Amt is, 1935'.

EDWIN MOREY.'-

-- it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification 6: the f above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column, line 42, claim 2, for "form folding" read fold forming; fllines7 3, claim 4, strike out the words "and crimping" and insert the same before "members" in line 74, same page, column and claim; page 4, second column, lines, claim 8, for "container" read liner; same page and colnmn, line .23, beginning with "Carton-contained" v strike ouL-all ro and including the word and period "liner." in line 35, comprising claim 10, and insert the same after claim 2, as claim 3; and for the claim numbers "3, 4. 5, 6, 7, 8'and 9" read 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10,-respectiyel3r;

Leslie Frazer H (Scarf Acting Commissioner of Patentm; 

